Post season scouting

[Pmringer]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It's even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren't anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You're not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don't think it's only generic information you gain unless you're scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That's dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that's not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it's at!!

I suppose I should have been more clear.  Late season has benefits on our property here in SE Indiana for a few reasons.  There is the primary benefit which is late season patterns.  Hunting here is garbage in the late season due to the immediate pressure from all the gun hunters.  Early season (pre-rifle) is way more productive.  I was into deer every time out prior to gun season and saw a single yearling during daylight from start of gun onward.  Late season scouting gives me clues to their change in movement and how to correlate with my single trail camera I run for the higher pressure late season as they start getting back into habits.  I am not sure how this will benefit me next season late since this is our second year owning the property but the more data the better. 

There are early season benefits as well.  I made a lot of notes from field observations and my trail camera in the early season.  Observing the late season trails etc. has been valuable to confirm my observations on patterns of travel corridors as influenced by the terrain, food, and water sources.   I like data and late season scouting, even when I was primarily hunting public, provided some value to each part of the season at varying degrees.

Sounds like in your case late season scouting would be very beneficial. You're trying to find them nearish now. Being the property is new you can also learn the lay of the land. Easier to see funnels, saddles, etc.
I'd take note of certain trees for the upcoming  mushroom season too.

Oh yeah. I've already mapped out a few hotspots I expect for mushrooms and ginseng. Now just need to find an Osage worth cutting for bows on the property.

[GCook]

To me being out there all year is key.  Just like bass fishing you have to fish often to stay on locations and patterns as the seasons play out.  On any given lake/property you learn from year to year what to anticipate and approaches to take.  Even just evenings and mornings spent instant glassing provides valuable intel.

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[Huntschool]

To me being out there all year is key.  Just like bass fishing you have to fish often to stay on locations and patterns as the seasons play out.  On any given lake/property you learn from year to year what to anticipate and approaches to take.  Even just evenings and mornings spent instant glassing provides valuable intel.

GCook:

So, how do you divide your time between your "lease" and your "Ranch" ?

Just wondering.......

[Friend]

Love the post season scouting and immediate next season's prep start.

Currently running 20 cameras and have completed ten hours of strategic brush cutting....the deer are already heavily using several areas.

[GCook]

To me being out there all year is key.  Just like bass fishing you have to fish often to stay on locations and patterns as the seasons play out.  On any given lake/property you learn from year to year what to anticipate and approaches to take.  Even just evenings and mornings spent instant glassing provides valuable intel.

GCook:

So, how do you divide your time between your "lease" and your "Ranch" ?

Just wondering.......

It has been a wild ride.  A lot of miles on a truck, 9000 just this season alone, a lot of miles on my feet and it is as much work as it is enjoyment.  It's been getting tougher every year.  Not just in money, which is significant for a working person, but in time and energy as well.
I actually just made the decision to leave the lease behind.  The last two years time has been limited due to work and my duties as scout master.  I've also stepped down from that position.
Basically it worked that I spent at least 36 weekends (on a slow year) a year away from home.  Two years ago it was 48.   That's including scout campout weekends.
Basically on our ranch we have put together enough land and it has an adequate game population that I almost feel comfortable leaving the lease hunting wise.  However I will miss hunting with those friends I've made over the last six years.
That said we are looking to purchase another attached parcel.  Which means another five years before I can really retire.[emoji1]

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[Bowguy67]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It's even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren't anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You're not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don't think it's only generic information you gain unless you're scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That's dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that's not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it's at!!

I suppose I should have been more clear.  Late season has benefits on our property here in SE Indiana for a few reasons.  There is the primary benefit which is late season patterns.  Hunting here is garbage in the late season due to the immediate pressure from all the gun hunters.  Early season (pre-rifle) is way more productive.  I was into deer every time out prior to gun season and saw a single yearling during daylight from start of gun onward.  Late season scouting gives me clues to their change in movement and how to correlate with my single trail camera I run for the higher pressure late season as they start getting back into habits.  I am not sure how this will benefit me next season late since this is our second year owning the property but the more data the better. 

There are early season benefits as well.  I made a lot of notes from field observations and my trail camera in the early season.  Observing the late season trails etc. has been valuable to confirm my observations on patterns of travel corridors as influenced by the terrain, food, and water sources.   I like data and late season scouting, even when I was primarily hunting public, provided some value to each part of the season at varying degrees.

Sounds like in your case late season scouting would be very beneficial. You're trying to find them nearish now. Being the property is new you can also learn the lay of the land. Easier to see funnels, saddles, etc.
I'd take note of certain trees for the upcoming  mushroom season too.

Oh yeah. I've already mapped out a few hotspots I expect for mushrooms and ginseng. Now just need to find an Osage worth cutting for bows on the property.

You all got fiddleheads by ya too? I love them things

[Pmringer]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It's even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren't anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You're not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don't think it's only generic information you gain unless you're scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That's dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that's not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it's at!!

I suppose I should have been more clear.  Late season has benefits on our property here in SE Indiana for a few reasons.  There is the primary benefit which is late season patterns.  Hunting here is garbage in the late season due to the immediate pressure from all the gun hunters.  Early season (pre-rifle) is way more productive.  I was into deer every time out prior to gun season and saw a single yearling during daylight from start of gun onward.  Late season scouting gives me clues to their change in movement and how to correlate with my single trail camera I run for the higher pressure late season as they start getting back into habits.  I am not sure how this will benefit me next season late since this is our second year owning the property but the more data the better. 

There are early season benefits as well.  I made a lot of notes from field observations and my trail camera in the early season.  Observing the late season trails etc. has been valuable to confirm my observations on patterns of travel corridors as influenced by the terrain, food, and water sources.   I like data and late season scouting, even when I was primarily hunting public, provided some value to each part of the season at varying degrees.

Sounds like in your case late season scouting would be very beneficial. You're trying to find them nearish now. Being the property is new you can also learn the lay of the land. Easier to see funnels, saddles, etc.
I'd take note of certain trees for the upcoming  mushroom season too.

Oh yeah. I've already mapped out a few hotspots I expect for mushrooms and ginseng. Now just need to find an Osage worth cutting for bows on the property.

You all got fiddleheads by ya too? I love them things

Oh yeah!

[Bowguy67]

Awesome!